Thursday, July 28, 2016

Gatchalian tells PNP to stop vigilantes: They’re not Batman

Gatchalian tells PNP to stop vigilantes: They’re not Batman

Senator Sherwin Gatchalian has called on the Philippine National
Police (PNP) to make “drastic” efforts to suppress vigilante killings of
suspected drug pushers in the country.

“The PNP needs to work double-time in investigating the murder of
Filipino citizens by lawless elements who have decided to take the law
into their own hands. These vigilantes must think they are noble
crusaders like Batman, but in reality they are merely vicious criminals
who need to be brought to justice,” Gatchalian said in a statement on
Thursday.

The senator urged PNP Director General Ronald “Bato” Dela Rosa to
ensure that the police would mount the proper investigations and
anti-vigilante operations to restore order in the streets.

“Director General Bato has to take control of the situation by making
sure that these vigilantes can’t just murder people in the streets with
impunity. Only the police force and the judiciary should have the power
to punish criminals for their crimes. Criminals shouldn’t be able to
punish each other,” he said.

Gatchalian noted that hundreds of drug-related killings have already
been reported since President Rodrigo Duterte assumed office on June 30.
While some have occurred during official police operations, he said,
many of these murders have been reportedly committed by unidentified
hitmen.

He reiterated that the PNP, the National Bureau of Investigation, the
Department of Justice, and other law enforcement and executive agencies
should have the first opportunity to conduct investigations into the
killings because the work falls squarely into their jurisdiction.

But if lawlessness and violence continue to escalate without any
answers or action coming from law enforcement officials, then Gatchalian
said he would have to consider supporting a Senate investigation into
the matter.

“We need to do everything we can to restore peace and order in the streets,” the senator stressed.

The Senate committee on justice headed by Senator Leila de Lima is
set to conduct an investigation on the sudden rise of alleged
extrajudicial killings in the country. IDL/rga